Brake Fluid - Buick 2012 Regal Owner's Manual

Brake Fluid

The brake master cylinder and,
on manual transmission vehicles,
the clutch hydraulic system use
the same reservoir. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10 6 for the location of the
reservoir. The reservoir is filled
with with either DOT 3 or DOT 4
brake fluid as indicated on the
reservoir cap.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir
might go down:
The brake fluid level goes down
because of normal brake lining
wear. When new linings are
installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
A fluid leak in the brake/clutch
hydraulic system can also
cause a low fluid level. Have the
brake/clutch hydraulic system
fixed, since a leak means that
sooner or later the brakes will
not work well.
Do not top off the brake/clutch fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings
are worn, there will be too much
fluid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake/clutch hydraulic
system.
WARNING
If too much brake fluid is added,
it can spill on the engine and
burn, if the engine is hot enough.
You or others could be burned,
and the vehicle could be
damaged. Add brake fluid only
when work is done on the
brake/clutch hydraulic system.
Vehicle Care
Checking Brake Fluid
The brake/clutch fluid can be
checked without taking off the cap
by looking at the brake/clutch fluid
reservoir.
The fluid level should be above
MIN. If it is not, have the
brake/clutch hydraulic system
checked to see if there is a leak.
After work is done on the
brake/clutch hydraulic system,
make sure the level is above MIN
but not over the MAX mark.
When the brake/clutch fluid falls to a
low level, the brake warning light
comes on. See Brake System
Warning Light on page 5 18.
What to Add
If the vehicle has DOT 3 brake
fluid, as indicated on the reservoir
cap, use only new DOT 3 brake
fluid from a sealed container.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11 12.
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